By Susan Lerner and Sean Coffey

Published 12:20 am, Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Democracy is about options. That's why, once a decade, we have an opportunity to redraw the electoral map, tailoring our representation to suit the changing needs of our communities.

In theory, redistricting is meant to reflect the demographic changes that occur in a decade and provide appropriate representation. In practice, the process is driven by incumbents' self-interest rather than the interests of the average person. As a result, our politics are more polarized than ever, and "communities of interest" are sliced and diced to preserve pockets of political power.

That is not the way it's supposed to be.

The strong showing by community groups and individuals at the redistricting hearings that took place in Queens and the Bronx two weeks ago and the expected large turnout at this week's hearings in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Staten Island show that New Yorkers want a fair chance to elect representatives of their own choice.

Common Cause New York had joined with Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other good government groups, calling for an independent redistricting commission to establish a non-partisan and fair process. It is to the credit of Cuomo, former New York City Mayor Ed Koch and the ReShapeNY coalition that redistricting -- often seen as a wonky, insider issue -- has become an important political issue in New York.

While it's clear that, all things being equal, a truly independent commission is the best procedure, we no longer believe that pursuing such a strategy to the exclusion of other important factors is realistic. Despite the fact that 60 out of 62 senators, and 121 out of 150 Assembly members pledged to support independent redistricting, nothing has happened. Focusing primarily on whether the Legislature will set up an independent commission has proved to be a distraction from the core issue: achieving fair, nonpoliticized district maps. Frankly, at this late hour, who draws the lines doesn't matter nearly as much as how they're drawn.

With all of the attention given to whether the Legislature will turn over redistricting to an independent commission, little, if any attention has been paid to the key factors that would result in a fair, nonpoliticized maps. No constitutional amendment is necessary for whomever draws them to produce maps that aren't hopelessly gerrymandered.

In response to the clear desire of New Yorkers for fair representation, the Legislature should instruct the Legislative Task Force on Research and Reapportionment, the existing body responsible for redistricting, to adhere to the following standards, in addition to the criteria required by federal law and the state constitution:

Prioritize respecting communities of interest: Respecting communities of interest is integral to the principle of one person, one vote. Twenty-two states expressly require that district lines be drawn to recognize communities of interest, such as social, cultural, ethnic, economic and racial similarities. Prioritizing the way in which people actually "feel" the boundaries of their neighborhoods minimizes drawing districts that prioritize creating safe seats for a particular political party.

Minimize or eliminate political self-interest in drawing the maps: The redistricting process should be driven by demographics, not the needs of the incumbent. Currently, the incumbent's residence and whether the district is a "safe" district for one of the political parties are factored into the process. Redistricting should not serve entrenched interests.

These two key principles form the basis for the criteria in the governor's redistricting reform bill. If the Legislature won't adopt the criteria that will result in the fair maps that New Yorkers want, then Cuomo should make good on his promise and veto the resulting maps -- no matter who draws them.

Drawing fair, non-politicized maps should be the bottom line, not who is drawing them.

Susan Lerner is the executive director of Common Cause New York. Sean Coffey is a Common Cause board member who ran for the Democratic nomination for state attorney general in 2010.